Dispenser having a pressure actuated outlet means



July 27, 1 G. E. MlDWORTH DISPENSER HAVING A PRESSURE ACTUATED OUTLET MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 22, 1963 DISPENSER HAVING A PRESSURE ACTUATED OUTLET MEANS Filed April 22, 1963 July 27, 1965 e. E. MIDWORTH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 \lllllll United States Patent 3,197,081 DKSPENSER HAVDIG A PRESSURE ACTUATED OUTLET hlEANS Graham E. Midworth, Shepperton, Middlesex, England,

assiguor to Sterling Drug Inn, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 22, 1963, Ser. No. 274,718

3 Claims. ((Il. 222179) This invention relates to dispensers for liquid, paste or the like, of the type having a main unit which may be mounted at a position convenient in view of the use to be made of the liquid or paste, dispensed and operated by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure from a subsidiary unit at a different position. One particularly suitable use of such a dispenser is the delivery of an antibacterial hand lotion or cream suitable for sterilizing the hands of surgeons, where it is desirable to mount the dispenser on a wall with its delivery opening or spout at a height convenient for delivery to the hands of a standing user, and have a foot-operated unit for operation of the dispenser without contamination of the hands.

Any dispenser for liquid, paste or the like, other than a gravity-feed dispenser (which involves relatively free access of air to a reservoir of the liquid, paste or the like, and is for that reason not suitable for such uses as that mentioned above) performs a pumping action and it is found in practice that immediately after delivery there is likely to be some suck-back, i.e., inspiration into the delivery opening. While this helps to avoid unsightly drips from the delivery opening or spout, whenever it is desirable to avoid contamination of the liquid, paste or the like, such inspiration is undesirable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved dispenser of the type defined above, so constructed that the tendency for inspiration at completion of delivery is substantially eliminated.

According to the invention there is provided a dispenser for liquid, paste or the like of the type comprising a main unit operable by fluid pressure from a subsidiary unit in a different position, in which said main unit includes a mounting-block adapted to receive a reservoir for liquid, paste or the like, on one of its faces, and carrying a pump unit, operable by fluid pressure from the subsidiary unit, on another face, inlet and outlet valves within said block being arranged to control flow from the reservoir to the pump unit and from the pump unit to a delivery spout integral with or secured to said block.

With such a dispenser the tendency for inspiration to occur after delivery is relatively small, but this tendency may be reduced if, as is preferred, the outlet valve is resiliently biased towards the closed position.

It is preferred to arrange the mounting block to receive the reservoir on its upper face and the pump unit on its lower face; in a particularly preferred form the pump is of the diaphragm and so arranged that a recess in the lower face of the block forms a wall of the pumps operating chamber, the actual diaphragm being arranged to close said recess. One end of the block conveniently has a dovetail projection engageable with a channeled mounting plate which may be secured to a wall, and then the spout may be provided at the opposite end of the block. It is an especially convenient arrangement to use as the reservoir a screw-necked bottle, e.g. of plastic material, the block then having a tapped recess in its upper face into which the neck of the bottle may be screwed, so that the bottle is held inverted. It is clearly necessary to allow some air to enter the reservoir as its contents are withdrawn, and it is preferred to provide a drilling through the block from an outside face of the block and communicating with a tube secured to the block in such a position as to extend substantially to the top of the reservoir when the latter is fitted to the block; for example, Where a bottle serves as the reservoir in the manner just mentioned, the said drilling may extend from the rear face of the block horizontally to a point below the bottle-receiving recess, and thence upwardly to enter the recess; the lower end of said tube is fitted into the upwardly-directed part of the drilling. Such an arrangement, although admitting air as necessary, introduces little interchange of air between the reservoir and the ambient atmosphere, and hence minimizes the risk of contamination of the contents of the reservoir.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

In order that the invention may be well understood, a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described in detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a general view of a complete dispenser embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional perspective view of the main unit of the dispenser of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view through the pump chamber and associated parts, and

FIGURE 4 is a View similar to FIGURE 2 but showing a modified construction.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, the dispenser there shown comprises a main unit 1 and a subsidiary unit 2; the main unit 1 is normally mounted as shown at a convenient height on a wall or other vertical support, and is connected by a flexible air-hose 3 to the subsidiary unit 2, which includes an air pump (not shown in detail) arranged to apply pneumatic pressure through the air-hose 3 whenever a pedal e is depressed. The unit 2 need not be fixed in position and the flexibility of the air-hose 3 permits unit 2 to be placed at any convenient position on a floor adjacent to the wall or other vertical support to which the main unit 1 is attached.

The main unit 1 comprises a mounting block 5 having on its rear face a dovetail projection 6 engaged in a conventional channeled mounting-plate 7 secured to the wall; a screw-necked bottle 8 serving as a reservoir 'for liquid, paste or the like is carried (neck downwards) on the upper face of the block 5, the neck of said bottle being received ina tapped recess 9 in said face (FIG- URE 2).

Access of air is provided to the interior of the bottle 8 by a'drilling 14 extending horizontally through the block from its rear face to a point below the recess 9 and upwardly into said recess, together with a tube 11 received at its lower end in the upwardly-directed part of the drilling l0 and fitted with a non-return valve 11a of known construction; the drilling It) and tube 11 are both of small bore so that, while entry of air to the bottle is permitted, any tendency for exchange of air between the interior of the bottle and the ambient atmosphere is minimized, and thus chemical or bacterial contamination of the contents of the bottle is substantially eliminated.

The lower face of the block 5 is also recessed and accommodates a diaphragm-type pump unit, generally indicated at 12 and comprising a pump body 13 held to the diaphragm is from its normal, downwardly-dished condition produced by a compression spring 17 which is centrally'piaced betwe'en'th'e diaphragm 14 and mounting block in chamber 15,, the spring being provided with,

thrust plateslS at each of its ends.

The chamber between the diaphragm 14 and block 5, and containing spring 17, serves as a pumping chamber--its volume varies whenever the diaphragm 14 moves up or down-and a-bore 19. extending vertically through the block 5 allows liquid, paste or the like. from the bottle 8 to reach said chamber whenever the diaphragm 14 moves downward, reverse flow, however, being prevented by a ball valve '20 which is closed by contact with a seat 22 at the lower end of a screw-threaded bushing 21. Valve, 2% is open at all other times, being smaller in diameter than an enlarged portion 23 of the passage 19 in which the ball valve'20 is located.

A horizontal passage in the block 5 communicates with the bore 19 below valve and contains a further ball valve 25 backed by a spring 26 biasing the ball valt e 25 towards its closed position. When ball valve 25 is open,

passage 24 communicates with an outlet passage 27 in a spout 28 secured to the outer end of mourning block 5.

It will readily be appreciated that whenever the diaphragm moves downward, due to a reduction of pressure in the air-hose 3 consequent upon release of the pedal 4 in unit 2, atmospheric pressure causes flow of liquid, paste or' the like from the reservoir into the pumping chamber; Whenever pedal. 4 is again depressed, air pressure will rise in the'air-hose 3 and the diaphragm 14 will move upwardly. Pressure in the pumping chamber will rise and the liquid, paste or the like therein will flow up the bore 19; as this closes valve 20 and prevents return of the liquid, paste or the like to the reservoir, the flow will be directed along the passage 24, the pressure existing will open valve 25 against spring 26 and the liquid, paste or the like will pass out via Spout 28 and become available to'a user. However, as soon as this flow to the spout ceases, whether or not the pedal 4 is immediately released, the'spring 26 will close valve 25 closing passage 27, and thus upon release of the pedal 4 there can be no inspiration of'air through spout 28. Valves 20 and 25 thus serve respectively as inlet and outlet valves for the pumping chamber 15.

The convenience of the construction described can be well appreciated from the drawings; By disengagement of the block 5 from mounting-plate 7 (FIG. 1) requiring only a simple lifting movement, and inversion of the block 5, either the bottle .8 can be changed for-a fresh, full bottle without spillage or, if desired, the pump can be rapidly disassembled as required. For neither operation need the ball-valves be disturbed, but if access to either valve is required, it is readily obtainable. For access to inlet valve 20, first the bottle 8 is removed, then the bushing 21 is extracted from the upper end of bore 19; and the ball itself can be extracted. Outlet valve 25 and its spring 26 can be reached by removal of the spout 28, held to the block 5 by four set-screws 29, passed through a mounting plate 30 of the spout into block 5. It will be seen that, on the outer side of valve 25, passage 24 has two branches 31, 32; the lower branch 32 leads to the spout passage 27, while the upperbranch 31 accommodates the spring 26 which is located around a pin 33 projecting from an adjusting screw 34'accommodated in a tapped outer portion of thebranch 31 and concealed when the spout 28 is assembled.

Referring briefly to the modified construction shown in FIG. 4, many of the parts are identical with those shown in FIG. 2 and will not be described again. However, it will be seen that the block 5 is not solid, but is made in upper and lower parts marked 50, 5b respectively; the upper part 5a engages the lower part 5b adjacent its periphery and also at the top of the bore 19, a downwardly-projecting boss 35 on the part 5a surrounding an upwardly-projecting boss 36 on the part 5b. In this form therefore the seat for inlet valve 20 is integral with the part 5a and separation of parts 5a, 511 permits access to valve 21' The'two parts 5a, 5b may be secured together by any convenient means if (unusually) the weight of the upper part 5a (with the bottle 8 and its contents) is insufiicient.

' Thus it will be seen that a dispenser of peculiarly practical and convenient form has been provided, being simple to service and, as exemplified by the specific form described readily arranged to be free of undesirable suckbuck after delivery. It will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art, that various changes or modifications may be made in the details of the dispenser just described, without departing from the scope of the invention, e.g. access to the outlet valve may be provided without removal of the spout and/ or different types of valve may be employed, or if ball valves are retained, they may be self-contained assemblies removable and replaceable as units. If desired, after partial disassembly all the parts carrying the liquid, paste or the like can readily be cleaned and sterilized.

Where the liquid, paste or the like may be adversely affected by exposure. to light, a detachable cover may be provided, of opaque material, so as to surround the reservoir completely; such cover may merely be clipped to the reservoir or to the block 5 so that its presence does not materially reduce the ease of access to the reservoir and inlet valve.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispenser comprising a support adapted to be mounted in an elevated position with respect to a supporting surface, said support including a block havingan upper surface and a lower surface, said block having a recess in its upper surface, a container adapted to be mounted in an inverted position in the recess, said container containing material to be dispensed, the block forming'a bottom'surface for the recess, a passage leading downwardly from the bottom surface of the recess through a portion'of the block, a normally open valve in the passage, means forming a pumping chamber at and communicating with the lower end of said passage, a diaphragm in the block and extendinng across the chamber at the lower portion thereof, a spring in the chamber maintaining said diaphragm normally in lowermost position, means providing pressure to said diaphragm to raise the same relative to the chamber exerting pressure on the contents thereof and at the same time closing the valve, a branch passage extending from said chamber, a valve in said branch passage, a spring normally holding said valve closed but yielding under conditions of pressure in the chamber to open to allow the contents from the pumping chamber to proceed through said branch'passage, a spout communicating with said branch passage, pressure on the contents of the pumping chamber raising the valve in the first-named passage to close the same preventing escape of the contents of the pumping chamber upwardly into the reservoir and at the same time impinging on the valve in the branch chamber opening the same and causing material from the pumping chamber to be forced through said branch passage to said spout, release of pressure on the diaphragm allowing the spring in the pumping chamber to return the diaphragm to its downwardmost position and allowing the spring behind the valve in the branch passage to close the same.

, 2. The dispenser recited in claim 1 wherein said spout 5 6 is relatively elongated and the normally closed valve in References Cited by the Examiner the branch chamber is closely associated with respect to UNITED STATES PATENTS said pumping chamber preventing inspiration of air in 2 066 030 12/36 Clark 222179 a reverse ifrectwn thr9ugh.sald r 2,605,021 7/52 Churchill et al 222478 3. The dlspenser recited 11'1- c1a1m 1 whereln the means 0 2,665,825 1/54 Poitras et aL 222 179 provldlng pressure to the diaphragm is located on the supporting surface, and includes a tube connecting the HENSON WOOD Prlmary Exammersame to the block in position to actuate the diaphragm. LOUIS I. DEMBO, EVERETT W. KIRBY, Examiners.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,197,081 July 27, 1965 Graham E. Midworth A It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1, line 56, after "diaphragm" insert type column 3, line 30, for "mourning" read mounting column 4, lines 18 and 19, for '"suckbuck"' read "suck-back" Signed and sealed this 15th day of March 1966.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER \ttcsting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A DISPENSER COMPRISING A SUPPORT ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED IN AN ELEVATED POSITION WITH RESPECT TO A SUPPORTING SURFACE, SAID SUPPORT INCLUDING A BLOCK HAVING AN UPPER SURFACE AND A LOWER SURFACE, SAID BLOCK HAVING A RECESS IN ITS UPPER SURFACE, A CONTAINER ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED IN AN INVERTED POSITION IN THE RECESS, SAID CONTAINER CONTAINING MATERIAL TO BE DISPENSED, THE BLOCK FORMING A BOTTOM SURFACE FOR THE RECESS, A PASSAGE LEADING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE BOTTOM SURFACE OF THE RECESS THROUGH A PORTION OF THE BLOCK, A NORMALLY OPEN VALVE IN THE PASSAGE, MEANS FORMING A PUMPING CHAMBER AT AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE LOWER END OF SAID PASSAGE, A DIAPHRAGM IN THE BLOCK AND EXTENDING ACROSS THE CHAMBER AT THE LOWER PORTION THEREOF, A SPRING IN THE CHAMBER MAINTAINING SAID DIAPHRAGM NORMALLY IN LOWERMOST POSITION, MEAND PROVIDING PRESSURE TO SAID DIAPHRAGM TO RAISE THE SAME RELATIVE TO THE CHAMBER EXERTING PRESSURE ON THE CONTENTS THEREOF AND AT THE SAME TIME CLOSING THE VALVE, A BRANCH PASSAGE EXTENDING FROM SAID CHAMBER, A VALVE IN SAID BRANCH PASSAGE, A SPRING NORMALLY HOLDING SAID VALVE CLOSED BUT YIELDING UNDER CONDITIONS OF PRESSURE IN THE CHAMBER TO OPEN TO ALLOW THE CONTENTS FROM THE PUMPING CHAMBER TO PROCEED THROUGH SAID BRANCH PASSAGE, A SPOUT COMMUNICATING WITH SAID BRANCH PASSAGE, PRESSURE ON THE CONTENTS OF THE PUMPING CHAMBER RAISING THE VALVE IN THE FIRST NAMED PASSAGE TO CLOSE THE SAME PREVENTING ESCAPE OF THE CONTENTS OF THE PUMPING CHAMBER UPWARDLY INTO THE RESEVOIR AND AT THE SAME TIME IMPINGING ON THE VALVE IN THE BRANCH CHAMBER OPENING THE SAME AND CAUSING MATERIAL FROMTHE PUMPING CHAMBER TO BE FORCED THROUGH SAID BRANCH PASSAGE TO SAID SPOUT, RELEASE OF PRESSURE ON THE DIAPHRAGM ALLAOWING THE SPRING IN THE PUMPING CHAMBER TO RETURN THE DIAPHRAGM TO ITS DOWNWARDMOST POSITION AND ALLOWING THE SPRING BEHIND THE VALVE IN THE BRANCH PASSAGE TO CLOSE THE SAME. 